2002 Caravan instrument cluster etc

Hello - I have a 2002 Caravan 2.4 Litre 4 cylinder, auto trans, basic model, 97000 miles. Bought from a relative in California and brought to Canada. It has three problems:

1. Erratic speedometer - jumps all around, even when not driving, but not in any predictable way. This problem was repaired just before I purchased it (invoice shows replacement of speed sensors), but it started immediately as I hit the I5 to drive it home to Canada.

2. Occasional, very random, very brief split second cut out or signifcant reduction in power, usually at highway speed. You'll just feel a brief blip, not a miss or rough patch, but as if you'd shut the motor off and right back on (but faster than you could actually do it). Sometimes you'll get a few in a row, then not again for a few hours.

3. Occasional failure to crank. Turn the key on and all dash lights come on, turn to crank and nothing happens - no apparent draw or load on system, no sound of solenoid or starter engaging. Usually if you keep trying it will go and then be fine for weeks or months before it happens again (seems like the ignition switch).

Took it to a mechanic (former dodge dealer mechanic) who could find nothing wrong but had the control module reprogrammed at the dealer because there was a service bulletin for this model. Anyway, no change and he did not charge me.

I scanned for codes with a code reader and none came up. I did the diagnostic on the instrument cluster using the trip odometer reset and got error code 400.1

Any help or direction you can give would be greatly appreciated - especially what the error code means as my manual does not define it.

The cluster in those are a problem, I'll update this in a minute.

400.1 huh....Hmmm.

My thoughts are a bad cluster.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Sunday, October 28th, 2007 AT 6:26 PM

GRUMMAN

MEMBER

2 POSTS

Thanks - I'll go take it for a drive and give the dash a smack. FYI - I googled the error code 400.1 and found someone who had that code after replacing the battery. Apparently it means improper power down or something related to electrical systems not being powered down properly?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Sunday, October 28th, 2007 AT 9:15 PM

SERVICE WRITER

EXPERT

9,226 POSTS

Try this:

Well..thanks to the people on this forum, i was able to fix my car. Here is what i did: took off the auto shut down relay ( in the box next to the battery) and after a while, i put it back...the noise disapeared, but the car still didn't start..then, someone here( service writer) send me a picture to show me where to look for that BCM, so..i went to the car and inside, on the left side of brake pedal, i saw...sort of box with ..fuses and relay i guessJunction box? I don't know, if someone knows, please tell me the name of that)...i took all of them out, (one by one), wait few seconds and put it back. After all was done, i turn the ignition on..dind't start at first but looked like wanted to start, so, turned off and on again and..the car started! Again, thank you very very much...if it wasn't for you, i wouldn't be able to do it! You are the best guys!

This code comes up when the battery gets changed, I thought code looked familiar, but didn't see it on mitchell one. A while ago I ran into this and did find it on Alldata. Good Greif. :roll:
I still think the cluster is on it's way out based on the other symptoms.